WP3 microbiome host phenotype associations

Here, we will enrich the data from existing and ongoing Amsterdam cohorts (HELIUS, AIMS, TIFN, Sarphati ethnographic cohort) with additional data on microbiome, its host and the socio-cultural and environmental context across the life course.

Investment in longitudinal observation of these populations will provide the data necessary to establish the causality in the relation of behavioral factors with microbiome and oral and general health status of the individuals and to obtain in-depth insight into the mechanisms underlying this association.

The integration of detailed data on everyday life practices within households (Sarphati Ethnographic cohort, AIMS) allows us to identify pathways from socio-economic and cultural differences to health and microbiome related behavior. These pathways are relevant for modelling. Moreover, household practices are also key for identifying potentials for intervention.

The obtained data will be integrated in microbiome-personal health in-silico models that in turn will be used for new hypothesis generation and for prediction of general health outcomes. In this way, for instance, the interplay of diet, microbiome and health outcomes can be modelled and validated using the follow-up data from the above mentioned cohorts. Within the HELIUS cohort, the baseline subject metadata on health and behavior has already been collected. The baseline fecal 16S rDNA microbiome data (N=6048) is available and has been insightful in showing disparities in microbial composition among different ethnic groups and demonstrating associations with various traits and risk factors implicated in health and disease.

Oral samples will be obtained during the current follow-up. In addition, the HELIUS data will be linked to health care registries to obtain data on relevant outcomes. The AIMS cohort started inclusion in 2019, and is following infants and their mothers (including partners and siblings) for at least three years (N=1000), and collects the metadata on health and behavior and a biobank with samples from multiple body sites, including the gut and the oral cavity. The TIFN cohort (part of TIFN Oral Health Theme 2012-2016) constitutes a multi-omics dataset from 268 healthy young Dutch adults on their oral ecosystem, oral health and diet.